Latest developments at University to begin shortly

Work will soon begin on the construction of a brand new hall of residence and a new sports pavilion at the University of Birmingham, to join the construction of a new sports centre and library which is already underway.

The new residences and sports facilities form part of the University’s £300 million transformational campus developments which also includes a new student services hub and a striking green park at the centre of the Edgbaston campus – as well as several other developments at other sites.These latest projects to begin construction will be built in the south west corner of the main campus, where the Selly Oak New Road has created a long and narrow site running between the road and the Bourn Brook on the boundary of campus.

There will be space for 178 student bedrooms in the new residence, arranged in 34 flats housing between four and seven people each and including 11 wheelchair accessible rooms. The design of the new residences are bright and modern, with communal spaces at the corners of the buildings to allow residents to benefit from views towards campus and Selly Oak. The plans also include a new sports pavilion and changing rooms for people using the nearby Bournbrook pitches and a café and bar which will overlook a new plaza fronting the entrance to campus.

Kevin Dickinson, director of projects at the University of Birmingham, said: “The Grange Road entrance is a key entrance to our campus, and the main exit into Selly Oak for students, staff and visitors. The new halls of residence and sports pavilion will create a lively atmosphere at this key junction, and provide high quality accommodation for our students in a great location, and another exciting sports facility which will work in conjunction with the state-of-the-art sports centre already being built nearby.”

Outline planning permission for the scheme was granted as part of the University’s hybrid application in 2013. A new route into campus from the Selly Oak New Road is also proposed to allow vehicles to access the servicing area of the campus more easily.

This development at the west of campus will complement the new sports centre currently being constructed on the corner of the Bristol Road and Edgbaston Park Road in the south east corner of campus and frame striking views of the listed Aston Webb buildings.

The plans for the whole of the campus reinterpret founder Joseph Chamberlain’s vision for the estate and draw on the legacy of past campus developments to provide 21st century educational, research and sports facilities for our staff and students, as well as extending the services available to the local community.

Notes to editors

For more information, including CGIs and artist’s impressions of any of the schemes mentioned in this release, please contact Kara Griffiths at the University of Birmingham on 07812 671797. More information also available at www.birmingham.ac.uk/building and @unibham_estates